Safety Flash
Near miss: Foreign body in diver’s helmet, resulting in fall of gas pressure
Near miss: Foreign body in diver’s helmet, resulting in fall of gas pressure
- IMCA
- Safety Flash
- IMCA SF 06/23
- DivingInspection and Maintenance
- Pressure systems
- Diving operationsInspection and maintenance
- Breathing apparatusValve
- Emergency responsePre-use checks
- Marine industry
- Subsea
Summary
A diver at 18 m experienced reduced breathing gas pressure. Bailout gas did not resolve the problem, but free flow restored suitable pressure. A plastic shard from a broken cleaning pot was found in the helmet regulator. The flash highlights pre-dive checks, cleanliness and the member’s introduction of spray bottles.
Classifications: Pressure systems; stored pressure; pressurised systems; pressurized systems.
Classifications: Diving operations; diving; commercial diving.
Classifications: Inspection and maintenance; asset inspection; equipment maintenance.
Classifications: Breathing apparatus; SCBA; self-contained breathing apparatus.
Classifications: Valve; valves.
Classifications: Emergency response; emergency preparedness.
Classifications: Pre-use checks; pre-use inspection.
Classifications: Marine industry; shipping industry; maritime sector.
Classifications: Subsea; underwater worksite.
Summary
During a routine dive at a depth of 18 m (60’), the diver reported to the Dive Supervisor a drop in breathing gas pressure; on returning to the vessel and removing the helmet, a foreign body was found in the demand valve chamber section of the helmet regulator
IMCA SF 06/23. Themes: diving, inspection and maintenance.